Justin: In a similar vein to one of the headmaster's recent picks comes Chicago's Russian Circles. An instrumental rock/post-rock/ambient/catch-phrase band that embraces the twinkling guitars of Sunny Day Real Estate and Texas is the Reason as much as the aggressive, crunchy guitars of many a pre-swedish-metal-craze metal band. In fact there's something about them that has a very Nick Menza/Dave Mustaine Rust In Peace-era Megadeth vibe to them. The band definitely works together as a unit, creating a nice musical mesh that keeps you listening, moving the melody along without having one person take the lead at all times with the drummer weaving what feel like afro-rhythmic inspired interludes between movements in the songs. Bands like this are good for the creative juices as the musicians' talent oozes out of your speakers and into your ears. Their album Enter "drops" (what does that even mean?) on the 16th of May and they'll be touring with Minus the Bear and Isis for a bit.
Russian Circles - Death Rides a Horse Russian Cirlces - Carpe Brian: Pyramids' Following the Tracks, Forcing Motion Through Phases may soon be recognized as one of the most important albums of its genre of the last 5 years. Combining bass-heavy screamo with post-rock textures, the Philadelphia, PA trio takes the listener on a train ride voyage lasting a mere 31 minutes in 7 passages, but through a lyrical subtext that dangles delicate metaphors and descriptive narration. It's haunting, beautiful, and generally mind-numbing. Find out more information at the website of the label that released the compact disc version just this past April 4th: Slave Union.